Percussion-fuse for projectiles.



(No Model.)

T. R. R. ASHTON.

PERCUSSION FUSE 'FOR PRDJECTILES..

(Application IdSQpt. 25, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet No.'654,|us. Patented my 17 |900.

T. a. R. AsHToN. PERCUSSION-FUSE FOR PRQJEGTILES.

(Appumion mea sept. 25,1899.)` 4

THOMAS R. R. ASHTON,

0F. L oNDoN, ENGLAND;l

PsRousssoN-Fuss Fon Paci;Ec'nmas.A

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,108, dated July-17, 1900.

Applloationled September 25, 1899. Serial No. 731,826.l (N o model.)

. To all whom t may concern:

Be itknown that I, THOMASROBERTRANEY ASHTON, a subject ofthe Queen of Great Brit# ain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsv in Percussion-Fuses for ProJectiles, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention .has for its object to provide a safe and reliable peroussonffuse which will not ignite the powder-.charge until the projecv tile strikes a solid or semisolid object, whether axially or obliquely.

In the accompanyingdrawings,Figure 1 is an axial section of a projectile provided with a base-fuse embodyingv my invention.' Fig. 2 represents the position of the fuse after the projectile has left the muzzle of the gun, and ig. 3 the position of the lectile has struck a solid object. Fig. 4 represents a nose-fuse em bodyingmy invention; The tubular body a of the fuse (represented by Figs. l, 2, and 3) is screwed into the base of the shell and carriesa perforated plug a, provided with atubular extension b, containing the ne-grain powder 'and constituting the primer. The plug ai, screwed into the head of the body a, contains a nipple c,.which has an axial perforation communicating with the interior of the tube b. The body a contains a movable piston o'r sliding block d, which is armed with a pair of locking springs or detents e,placed diametrically pcposite each otherintwo longitudinal recesses one end of each spring beingv fixed by a screw, while the other end is free to move-in av radial direction. An annular recess a is formed also in the wall of. the body ato receive the free ends of the locking-springs e. Thefront end or face4 of the piston dhas an annular recess d2, adapted to receive a helical spring f,

which also surrounds the nipple cand tends to hold the The'rear end of the piston d has a smaller diameter than the head andis surrounded by a sleeve g, fitted into the body a and adapted to slide in the same. The real` end Yof the body a is closed by a screw-plug h.l

When-the shell is placed in the gun, the piston d occupies the.- position shown by Fig. 1, the free ends of the brake or'lpckingspri-ngs e being situated'in v the-.retreats 'itfand abutting body a, fixed to the same, but

fuse after the pro-- piston d away from'thenipple;

same; so as to'prevent the piston d from slid#-A ing forward, while the friction betweeii.f the springs andthe 'body a forms ain obstacle to" backward motion of.' the piston.

A i against the 'shoulderLat-the front edge ofthe.:

will drive the shell forward, together withthe mediately act on the loose piston d, which,

spring f, will lag .behind until the Ileader; washer la'xed to the piston, strikes the face of the screw-plug h and the fuse occupies the i If the fuse-body a0 is fixed in the nose ofA the shell, as represented by Fig.'4, the nipple c is sun-k "inl the face of the piston d", pro- -vi'ded at the rear end with a sinallferrnle t.

"The annular recess for the helical spring j is formed. in the face oftthe the projecting middle-'part hU serves as an anv1l,against which strikes the percussion-l projectile meets asolid or semi#v8 will not im"-.-;.'

59;' -owin toits inertia and the pressure of the f "1. A fuse, comprising-a hollow body having .y

a shoulder thereon," a piston movable 'in .said

body, a-compressible detentl .secured to said piston adapted to engage said shoulder lfor ton, and na movable sleeve between .said

body, a spring-actuated datent on said ,pistonl adaptedstopengagesaid shoulder for prevent I roe ,ing the frward'movement of said piston,l and f Ia. movable sleeve between ,.said pistongandu..

9, preventing'lthef forward movement of saidfpis` PS- ton an d said hollow bodyactuated by a shock;

the latter when it strikes against said plug.

^ aid houw' body, actuated by a shock at the rear of the fuse," to. release saiddetent and maintain itin released position.

l3. A fuse comprising a hollow body having' a. shoulder thereon, a piston movable in-said body, -a leaf-spring on said pistou extending forwardly'and outwardly therefrom and normally engaging said shoulder for preventing the 'forward movement of said piston, and means actuated by a shock at the rear of the fuse, lfer compressing said spring and holding it out of engagement with said shoulder.

4. A fusecomp'rising a hollow body having an annular shoulder thereon, a plug at the rear end of said body, a piston movable in said body, Aleaf-springs secured to said piston, extending forwardly and outwardly therefrom and normally engaging said. shoulder, a sleevesurrounding therear end of said piston, normal-ly engaging said plug, and adapt ed, when said-.piston is moved rearwardly, to

' compress said springs and holdl them out of engagement with said shoulder, and a washer of soft compressible material on the rear end of said piston for preventing the rebound of 5. A percussion-fuse comprising in its construction a tubular fuse-bodyiixed at one end tothe extremity of the shell, extending axially intothe interior of the same and provided with an internal shoulder, the outer end of the fuse-body being provided with a screw-plug andthe Vinner end-with a plug carrying a tubular primer communicating with the interior ofthe fuse through a narrow duct; alpiston movable in the interior of the fuse-body and fitting into the same with its head, while-.the rear part is reduced' in diameter and carries in its circumference a set of leaf-springs, each of which is fixed at its `rear end in al recess of the piston and l adapted to project over the same and engage the shoulder in said fuse-body with its front end; a'perforated nipple projecting axially into the space formed between the face of the sliding piston and the plug at the inner end of the-fuse-body, al helical spring adapted to l hold the piston away from the plug at the inner end of the fuse-body, and a movable sleeve fitting into the fuse-body and over the rear part of thepiston, the whole being adapt.- f

ed temperate substantially as described.

6.- In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a fusebody a havingashoulder a', an axiallyperforated plug a2 and a tubular extension b, with an end plug 71 a movable piston d provided with leaf-springs e adaptedto engage said shoulder a movable sleeve g, nipple c, and a helical springf, substantially as described.

7. A percussiomfuse comprising in its construction a tubular fuse-body fixed at one end to the extremity of the shell and extending axially into the interior of the same, the outer end of the fuse being provided with a screwplug, the inner end with a similar plug.car rying a tubular primer communicating with the interior of the fuse through a narrowduct,

` and the inside of the cylindrical walls llaving an annular recess; a piston movablejin the interior of the fuse-body and-ttinginto the same with its head, while the rear part is reduced in diameter and carries in its circumference a set of leaf-springs, each of which is .fixed at its rear end in arecess of the piston and adapted to project with its front end into the annular recess of the fuse-body; a perforated nipple-projecting axially into the' space u formed between the face of the sliding piston and the plug atthe innerfen'd of the fuse body; a spring adapted to hold the' piston away from theplug at the inner end of the fuse-body; and a' movable sleeve fitting into the fuse-body and over the rear part of the piston, the whole being adapted to operate my hand in presence f two subscribing witnesses.

' T;R. R.ASHTON.

Witnesses-:1 i .T. Wrrrrnn,

C. ROCHE. 

